City agrees to livestream its meetings

THE City of Greater Geelong has fully agreed to a recommendation made by the Citizens’ Jury and will eventually start livestreaming council meetings.

At their meeting last week, councillors resolved to commit to the initiative – which is estimated to cost about $80,000 – and have it in place by July.

Last year, the Citizens’ Jury recommended that the City of Greater Geelong broadcast council meetings through multiple media platforms, saying the practice would provide unedited data and information to the wider community in an open and transparent public forum as well as a platform for the public to refer back to, fostering a sense of involvement, and would also hold councillors to account to the Code of Conduct.

In response councillors approved the new Live Streaming and Publishing Recordings of Council Meetings Policy in September, and last week’s meeting authorised the city’s chief executive officer to livestream meetings in accordance with the policy.

Funds have been set aside in this year’s council budget for equipment, including audio, video and lighting technology.

Last week’s resolution also notes that risk mitigation measures related to the livestreaming will be adopted by the city, and that streaming or publishing recordings of council meetings will not start until the relevant equipment had been procured and installed.

“We are intent on being transparent in our decision making, so anything that helps us to do that is worthwhile,” Geelong mayor Bruce Harwood said.